KP CM wants completion of power projects for flood-hit people of Chitral

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has directed completion of power generation projects in the minimum possible time and provision of electricity to the flood affected areas in Chitral.

He was presiding over the fourth meeting of Energy & Power Department at the Chief Minister's Secretariat, said an official handout. Minister for Power & Energy Muhammad Atif Khan, Chief Secretary Abid Saeed, Additional Chief Secretary Muhammad Azam Khan, Chief Strategic Support Unit Shahibzada Saeed, administrative secretaries, chief executive of the Pukhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation and KP Oil & Gas Company also attended the meeting.

The participants of the meeting were apprised of the priorities of power and Energy Department, implementation status of the decisions of 3rd stock take meeting, developmental funds utilisation position in the last six months, issues confronting the department during implementation phase, detailed work plan of 356 small hydel power projects and public sector projects.

The chief minister stressed the need for an early completion of assessment study of contractors skills and expertise to ensure timely completion of power generation projects in the province.

He directed to enter into agreement with top class Chinese companies and rates negotiation for power generation projects in the province. The chief minister okayed the import of the machinery on the need basis with the direction to ensure just utilisation of resources.

Pervez Khattak directed the quarters concerned to settle the pending issue of runoff canal projects with the Agriculture Department and obtain a written guarantee from the department for installation to avoid inter-departmental issues at a later stage.

The participants of the meeting were informed that out of 356 hydel power projects, work on 151 had already been initiated. The feasibility of 310 projects was ready. The chief minister directed to prepare the feasibility of remaining 46 projects.

He directed to initiate projects in the districts where suitable sites were available. Meanwhile, the meeting was briefed about investment share of various projects of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Oil and Gas Company in Karak and Hangu viz-a-viz gas infrastructure development.